DIASPORA
Staying true to tradition
V. GANGADHAR
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Leave it to the affluent Gujarat community abroad to do things in tradition and style.
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Photos: Courtsey Kanak and Heena Rana
Far away, yet so near: Creating a mini-India in the West.
Two great cities: Washington and London. Two lavish weddings in the Gujarati community. As Kanaksinh Rana, in the traditional costume of a Gujarati bridegroom complete with headgear and sword, arrived at London’s Guoman Hotel, on the banks of the Thames, guests and onlookers reached for their cameras. “Is he a real Indian Prince?” they asked. They gasped more when the bride Heena, in all her bridal finery, was carried into the hall on a doli by her four uncles.
Downtown Washington was stunned at the sight of a bejewelled elephant ambling outside Ronald Reagan building. It carried Manan Shah, a Washington-based finance manager, all set to marry Swati Raval. The elephant, 35-year-old Minnie had earlier appeared in AT&T ads. It fulfilled Manan’s dream of claiming his bride amid drama. He had seen a similar scene in India as a boy. Manan did everything big. Two years ago, he proposed to Swati in a hotel room filled with rose petals and candles. The baarat merited a write up and front page pictures in the Washington Post.
Leave it to the affluent Gujarat community abroad to do things in tradition and style. The weddings were only one part of a lifestyle based on the philosophy of Khaao, peeyo, maza karo (Eat, drink and be merry), with the merry making coming after decades of hard work in alien surroundings.
I learnt more about this after spending nearly a month with friendly Gujarati families in London and Washington. For instance, Narendra (‘Narubhai’ to family and friends) Karsan Bhundia of Edgware, Middlesex, lives a retired life and could afford a lavish wedding for daughter Heena.
Roots
His father, Karsan Bhundia, a tailor, had left his native Gujarat to work in distant Uganda. When driven out by dictator Idi Amin, the family opted to stay in Britain where Narubhai, a man of limited education but broad vision and talent, worked for nearly 30 years at Kodak before retiring.
The affluent Gujaratis are happy in their adopted environment, but not ready to give up their tradition and Indianness. This has led to the creation of mini-Indias in several areas, with temples, community halls and religious and cultural performances.
Religious aspect
Of course, the approach to tradition keeps changing. Most youngsters sported the latest Aamir Khan hairstyle. Dances at weddings and cultural functions are heavily influenced by Bollywood whether “Om Shanti Om” or “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayange”. But instead of cricket, the Gujarati boys rooted for soccer clubs, mostly Chelsea and Manchester United. Yet, no one was ready to abandon tradition.
Most families visited Mumbai and Gujarat at least once in two years, many on yatras or looking out for suitable matches for children. Religion has deep roots in many households, and pandits often dropped in to perform “Satya Narayan Katha”. The weddings in the community, lavish by any standards, did not ignore the religious aspects. Heena’s wedding was packed with rituals. The priest, while controlling the crowd effectively and bringing order to the hall, explained the slokas in English. He is so popular in the community that his services are booked till 2009.
Another priest, from Nalasapora a Mumbai suburb, comes to London regularly for 30 years during the wedding season. At a cool £550 pounds a wedding, this is a lucrative bonus.
Almost everyone in an average Gujarati family worked. Jobs were available to suit any timing. At the neighbourhood vegetable and fruit stalls, shopping malls and Indian stores, the staff was mostly Gujaratis. Narubhai’s son Vipul organised driving lessons, daughter-in-law, Bina worked part-time at a hospital; his wife Jyoti held a similar job till recently. One brother was a Metro train driver.
Social interaction
Whether self employed or holding jobs, the community has done well and can afford to splurge on regular holidays. Narubhai has travelled all over the world including trips to several European nations and also has a farmhouse in Alibaug near Mumbai.
Though there is not much social interaction with the local Whites, at an official level, the English bosses had no problems with their Gujarati staff who were disciplined and hard working. One of Bhundia’s closest friends was Maurice, an Irish neighbour, whose two sons were senior officers with Scotland Yard. He was completely at home during the marriage and attended all the ceremonies. Today there are more Gujarati-British weddings than in the past.
Mention intolerance and ‘honour killings’ and the British Gujaratis shudder. “We don’t resort to such extreme steps. Of course, we would prefer our youngsters to marry within our own caste, but would not seriously object if they chose an outsider.”
Like their cousins in India, the London Gujaratis were not interested in classical arts or books . The marvellous British theatre was never explored, nor were Hollywood and Continental films. But who needs those when you have get-togethers, food, travel and Ekta Kapoor?
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